Frangible target compacted of particulate ice or carbon dioxide



J. W. SILVA Dec. 19, 1967 FRANGIBLE TARGET COMPACTED OF PARTICULATE ICEOR CARBON DIOXIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR. JO$EPHW S/LVA BY J ATTORNEY Dec. 19, 1967 J. w. SILVA 3,359,001

FRANGIBLE TARGET COMPACTED OF PARTICULATE ICE OR CARBON DIOXIDE FiledMarch 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-5 FIG -6 INVENTOR. JOSEPH W. S/L VAAT TOPNEV United States Patent 3,359,001 FRANGIBLE TARGET COMPACTED OFPARTICU- LATE ICE 0R CARBON DIOXIDE Joseph W. Siiva, New Haven, Conn.,assignor to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation ofVirginia Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,296 2 Claims. (Cl. 273--105.4)

The present invention relates to projectable targets and relates inparticular to a frangible target of the type used in varioustrapshooting games.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of anovel projectable, frangible target which by virtue of its structure andmethod of manufacture eliminates shipping, breakage, inventory andresidue problems ordinarily encountered in the use of prior art claytargets.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a frangibletarget formed by freezing, compacting or molding, in a suitable die,shaved or cracked ice, water, snow or carbon dioxide.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of frangible targetsof the above general description including dispersed particulate matterwithin the target such as coloring material, fluorescent particles orother liquid, solid or gaseous components.

The frangible target of the present invention further contemplates thecombination of a skin or envelope surrounding the target where the skinmay take the form of impregnated or waxed paper, a thin film of plasticsheet material or a metallic foil.

A projectable, frangible target embracing certain principles of thepresent invention and defined in its simplest form may comprise a slugof ice or solid carbon dioxide or a compacted mass of crushed ice or iceparticles.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from an examination of the succeeding specification when readin conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2 and 3 are schematic representations of typicalmachinery useful to practice the process of the present invention; and,

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are representations of typical target structures.

In FIG. 1A there is shown a source of liquid carbon dioxide connected bya suitable conduit 11 to a cylindrical cavity 12 enclosed by a pair ofreciprocating, mating dies or molds 13 and 14. By suitable operation ofvalve 16 liquid carbon dioxide is introduced through expansion nozzleeffective to develop carbon dioxide snow within the cylinder 12.

After an appropriate interval the valve 16 is closed and mating dies 13and 14 are moved towards one another effective to convert the snow intoa solid figure or frozen target T as indicated in FIG. 1B.

A check valve 17 communicating with the cavity 12 by means of conduit 18may be advisable to relieve gas pressure during the molding operation.

In addition, considerations of economy may require that the exhaustcarbon dioxide gas be directed to a compressor C for reconversion intoliquid carbon dioxide in a closed circuit of the type shownschematically in FIG. 1A.

After the carbon dioxide snow has been converted into a round ordisc-like target T having the cross sectional configuration shown inFIG. 1B the cavity 12 is opened and the dies 13 and 14 are somanipulated to bring target T flush with surface 19; thereafter fingers21 are operative to transfer the target to trap arm 22 whereupon thetarget T is ready for projection in conventional fashion.

FIG. 2 is a representation of an alternative process for producing atarget T wherein the starting product is a carbon dioxide or ice block Bwhich is processed through a crusher or granulator 23 an thence througha pulverizer 24 prior to introduction into a die cavity 120. Aftersuitable compacting by dies and the target T is transferred to trap arm220 in the manner previously described.

FIG. 3 discloses in similar fashion a still further alternative whereinthe starting material is fiaked or coarsely crushed ice I processedthrough a pulverizer 240 and thence introduced into the die cavity formolding and compaction in the fashion previously described to producetarget T".

It is anticipated that the source material introduced to the die cavity12, for example, of FIG. 1A may be water; however, in view of the timeinterval necessary to freeze water and the continuous requirement oftargets, it is preferable to use as a starting material liquid or solidcarbon dioxide, crushed or shaved ice.

It is also within the contemplation of the invention that the startingmaterial be natural or artificial snow.

The process represented schematically in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, 2 and 3 mayinclude the additional step of lining or covering dies 13 and 14 with aflexible sheet prior to the molding step in order to produce a frangibletarget T, T, or T" having an exterior skin or envelope.

The skin or envelope may take the form of a thin web or sheet of treatedpaper, platsic or metal foil.

The above-described processes also contemplate the additional step, ifdesired, of introducing particulate matter in combination with thestarting material, suitably dispersed, to effect coloring, fluorescence,control frangibility, density or flight characteristics.

It is anticipated that the particulate matter may be introduced oradmixed in liquid, solid or gaseous form.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, note that the reference numeral 25designates a typical circular or discshaped trapshooting target,partially in section where the target comprises molded or compactedcarbon dioxide, artificial or natural snow, crushed or shaved ice orwater.

The partial representation of a frangible, frozen target indicated bythe reference numeral 30 in FIG. 5 is molded or compacted of any of thestarting materials described with respect to FIG. 4 plus the inclusionof dispersed particulate matter as represented by the reference numerals31-31.

The target represented in FIG. 6, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 35, can be fabricated from any combination or permutation of thesource materials of FIG. 4 and a desired particulate material 31-31 plusa protective skin or envelope indicated by the reference numeral 36.

The frozen, frangible target and method of manufacture of the presentinvention is advantageous for the following reasons:

(1) The targets may be produced at the place of trapshooting.

(2) The method of manufacture eliminates very substantial transportationcharges incurred in distributing prior art targets.

(3) The targets do not develop any appreciable residue.

(4) The target and method of manufacture in accordance with the presentinvention eliminates bothersome inventory and breakage problemsencountered in prior art target operations.

It is anticipated that a wide variety of embodiments 3 of the presentinvention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopethereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A projectable, frangible target useful in shooting games such as trapor skeet comprising a substantially saucer-shaped body composed ofparticulate, compacted, artificial water ice, said compacted body beingformed by reconstituting finely divided artificial water ice by means ofpressure in a closed cavity in substantially instantaneous fashion.

2. A projectable, frangible target useful in shooting games such as trapor skeet comprising a substantially saucer-shaped body composed ofparticulate, compacted, carbon dioxide, said compacted body being formedby reconstituting finely divided carbon dioxide by means of 15 pressurein a closed cavity in substantially instantaneous fashion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 223,301 12/1879 Newbold 273105.5303,315 8/1884 Nichols 273-l05.5 975,711 11/1910 Newbold 273l05.42,948,275 8/1960 Smith 124-27 3,307,516 9/1965 Kaluzny et a1 273-105.4

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner.

M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner.

1. A PROJECTABLE, FRANGIBLE TARGET USEFUL IN SHOOTING GAMES SUCH AS TRAPSKEET COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY SAUCER-SHAPED BODY COMPOSED OFPARTICULATE, COMPACTED, ARTICICIAL WATER ICE, SAID COMPACTED BODY BEINGFORMED BY RECONSTITUTING FINELY DIVIDED ARTIFICIAL WATER ICE BY MEANS OFPRESSURE IN A CLOSED CAVITY IN SUBSTANTIALLY INSTANTANEOUS FASHION.